Chapter 184 Willing to Indulge Her
Gu Jingxi choked.
Actually, there's no need to be so blunt.
He asked gently, "Did Xiu Ming upset you again?"
Meng Jinyao answered honestly, "No, it's just that he's such a good actor. He's been acting for so long and he doesn't seem tired at all. I have to act along with him."
Gu Jingxi thought she was annoyed and didn't want to see Xiuming, so she kindly said, "Then I'll tell him not to come and pay his respects to you anymore, so you can have some peace and quiet."
Little did she know, Meng Jinyao refused, shaking her head and lowering her voice: "No way, as the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.' I have to keep an eye on him to see if he will do anything unexpected. What if he tries to trick me if I'm not careful? Don't be fooled by his current respect for me; I don't believe he really treats me like an elder."
As soon as she finished speaking, she glanced at Gu Jingxi again. Meeting the man's overly calm gaze, she felt a little uneasy. She would never have dared to say such straightforward things to Gu Jingxi before, for fear that he would misunderstand that she was trying to sow discord between the father and son.
She dares to speak now only because Gu Jingxi saw through Gu Xiuming's thoughts and spoke to her earnestly just now.
If you call her a coward, she'll admit it.
Ever since her grandfather passed away, she knew that she was different from other girls. She didn't have parents who loved her, and she didn't have the confidence to act recklessly.
Even if she marries into a good family after she grows up, if she causes any trouble, her family will immediately sever ties with her. Her second brother, Chengzhang, treats her very well, but Chengzhang is still young and cannot support her.
Her current stable life is hard-won, and she doesn't want to cause any trouble that would make her life difficult in her husband's family. Therefore, she is much more cautious in her words and actions than others, and she has to proceed step by step.
Having been in officialdom for many years and serving as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Gu Jingxi could often tell something was wrong just by looking at the other person's eyes. At this moment, how could he not know what the young girl was worried about?
He sighed almost imperceptibly. He had figured out why the girl, who was usually bold but occasionally timid, was like this. It was because she didn't have much of a sense of security, which was ultimately related to her upbringing. So she was very cautious when it came to certain things.
Actually, he had seen the little girl when she was very young. At that time, the old Earl of Yongchang was still alive. He brought the little girl to the Marquis's mansion. She was a lively and lovely child, flamboyant and bright, and seemed fearless.
What a fine child, but after Old Yongchang passed away, the Meng family raised him to be like this.
Although he saw the problem, Gu Jingxi did not point it out, because pointing it out would not help. He could only work on it gradually and subtly, so that she would feel at ease and things would naturally get better. So he said gently, "He wouldn't dare to do anything underhanded right now, so please rest assured, Madam."
Meng Jinyao pursed her lips noncommittally, then leaned closer to him, carefully choosing her words, and asked softly, "If my husband could have his own child, would he let his child become the heir?"
Without hesitation, Gu Jingxi replied, "Not necessarily."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback: "Why?"
Gu Jingxi said slowly, "The capable should be in charge. If an incompetent person is made the heir and inherits the title, the century-old foundation will eventually fall into ruin. If it is an incompetent and immoral person, even if he is my own son, I will not let him inherit the title."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao was shocked and looked at him in disbelief. Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, she thought of Gu Xiuming. Even a biological son who is incompetent and immoral cannot inherit a title, let alone Gu Xiuming, who is not her biological son and is also incompetent and immoral? It seems that he already intends to depose Gu Xiuming as the heir apparent. He hasn't taken any action yet, and she doesn't know why, but he must have his reasons.
After a moment, she asked again, "If Gu Xiuming is virtuous and talented, and you later have a biological child who is also virtuous and talented, would you let your biological son inherit the title?"
Gu Jingxi spoke calmly and unhurriedly: "If the adopted son and the biological son are equally virtuous and talented, then the adopted son will inherit the title. When I had no children, I adopted the child, so he is the eldest son and should inherit the family business. The biological son is an unexpected joy. If he is talented, he can also have a good future. The family can help him a little."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao's heart was filled with turmoil again. At the same time, she felt that Gu Xiuming was incredibly stupid. If Gu Xiuming had behaved himself, not done anything to bring shame to the Marquis's mansion, and done what a young master should do to become the pride of the Marquis's mansion, even if Gu Jingxi's health problems were cured and he had his own flesh and blood, Gu Xiuming's position would not have been shaken.
Looking at the upright man, she sincerely sighed, "There are really few men like my husband. Many men adopt other men's sons before they have their own sons, with the initial intention of continuing the family line. But if they have their own children, they will definitely give way to the biological children and let the biological children inherit the family business."
Gu Jingxi smiled dismissively: "If a child is filial and sensible, they are better than one’s own. And even if they are one’s own child, they are not necessarily a good child. There are too many examples of unfilial children and grandchildren. Sometimes they are not as good as the neighbor’s child."
Hearing this, Meng Jinyao knew how much he had valued Gu Xiuming in the past, but unfortunately Gu Xiuming had gone astray.
Gu Jingxi watched as the little girl's eyes darted around, a sly glint in them. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He had thought she was timid just moments before, but now it seemed she was brewing some daring plan. Had she become bolder after learning of his feelings for Xiu Ming?
Thinking this, he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Bullying the weak and fearing the strong?"
Meng Jinyao gave a blank "Huh?"
Gu Jingxi added, "Behave yourself and don't argue with him. I'll deal with him myself if anything happens."
Meng Jinyao felt bewildered and couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, saying irritably, "I didn't say I was going to cause him any trouble. You're worried about your son being bullied, but you can't assume I'm like this."
Seeing that the little girl dared to give him attitude again, Gu Jingxi was not annoyed. He subtly curled the corners of his mouth, willing to indulge her.
Although he felt that the young girl was still a child, she was also a proper wife and the person he would spend his life with.
He didn't want his wife to have to think twice before speaking or acting in front of him. The Meng family didn't give his wife confidence, but he, as her husband, could.
Take it slow. In time, the girl will open up and become more carefree, and she will trust him more.
Suddenly, he felt that raising his wife was like raising a daughter.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Meng Jinyao thought he didn't believe her, and felt a little annoyed. She couldn't help but add, "I didn't mean to cause trouble for him. I was just gloating."
Gu Jingxi was taken aback: "Schadenfreude?"
Meng Jinyao blinked: "Is it wrong for me to gloat when he's unlucky?"
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